Valve



Dec. 6, 1960 J. E. BANCROFT 2,963,267

VALVE Filed April 21, 1959 FIG.!

INVENTOR. JAMES E. BANCROFT AT TORNE Y United tates atetit 2,963,261 VALVE James E. Bancroft, hayside N.Y., assignor to Allied Eontrol Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 807,813

4 Claims. (Cl. 251-333) This invention relates to the art of valves and, more particularly, to a fluid control valve having improved features of design and construction.

This is a continuation-in-part application of my pending application Serial No. 724,690, filed March 28, 1958, and entitled Solenoid-Actuated Valve.

The valve of this invention has wide application. It is adapted to be advantageously employed in various types of valve constructions for controlling fluid flow, including those which are actuated manually, those which are actuated mechanically and those which are actuated electrically, such as by means of a solenoid, as disclosed herein and in my pending application Serial No. 724,690.

This invention is concerned with a valve including an upstanding frusto-conical valve seat and a valve member which is positioned above the valve seat and which is movable into and out of sealing engagement with the upper end of the valve seat to control fluid flow through a coaxial and circular passage in the valve seat. I have discovered that, by employing a frusto-conical valve seat having an included base angle of a certain size, the transverse area of the passage will, under certain conditions, be equal to the peripheral area of a right circular cylinder extending from the upper end of the passage to the lower end of the valve member. This equal area relationship exists when the lower end of the valve member is at the apex of the cone from which the valve seat is formed. This equal area relationship holds true regardless of the size of the passage or the clear distance between the upper end of the valve seat and the apex of its cone. The included base angle is such that the clear distance between the valve seat and the valve member is automatically determined by the size of the passage. Thus, if the diameter of the passage is increased or decreased, the clear distance between the valve seat and the valve member is correspondingly increased or decreased and the referred-to areas remain equal. Theoretically, by using the equal area relationship, proper fluid flow is attained and without abnormal pressure drop. Actually, fluid eddy currents are created at the upper end of the passage in use. Provision should therefore be made to compensate for such eddy currents in designing the valve.

As will be explained in detail further along herein, the theoretical included base angle of the valve seat is 26 34'. Due to the creation of fluid eddy currents in use, this angle should, for best results, be increased to approximately 28. I have ascertained that, from a practical point of view, the included base angle may be within the range of about 24 to 32.

By employing a valve seat according to this invention, a wide range of passage sizes may be formed therein and still obtain proper fluid flow through the valve. This eliminates the need for valve inserts having difierent diameter passages. Also it minimizes inventory requirements.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a valve having novel, simplified and improved features of design and construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which includes a frusto-conical valve seat having an included base angle of predetermined size and a coaxial and circular passage formed therein.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a valve includinga frusto-conical valve seat having a central passage and a valve member movable into and out of sealing engagement with the end of smallest diameter of the valve seat, the parts being so constructed and arranged as to provide proper fluid flow and substantially no abnormal pressure drop at the discharge end of the valve seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character indicated that is simple in design, durable in construction, reasonable in manufacturing cost and capable of performing its intended functions in an efficient manner.

The enumerated objects and other objects, together with the advantages of the invention, will be apparent to persons trained in the "art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing which respectively describes and illustrates a valve constructed in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a valve constructed in accordancewith this invention, partly broken away and partly in central vertical cross section; and v ,Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1 and illustrates the valve member in raised position relative to the valve seat;

Referring initially to Fig. 1, I have illustrated therein a valve housing 10 which consists of a base 11, a cover 12 and a bushing 13 that is interposed between the base and the cover. The housing defines a fluid compartment 14.

Base 11 includes an internally threaded tubular wall 15. Integral with thebase is a frusto-conical valve seat 16 which is coaxial with base wall 15 and projects upwardly into compartment 14. The base has an inlet port 17 which communicates with the compartment by way of a passage 18. This passage is coaxial with the valve seat and is circular. in transverse configuration. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the surface which defines passage 18 intersects the frusto-conical surface of the valve seat. The base also has an outlet port 19 which establishes communication between compartment 14 and the exterior of the housing.

A first conduit 21 is threadedly connected to base 11 and establishes communication between a source of fluid supply (not shown) and inlet port 17. A second conduit 22 is threadedly connected to the base and communicates with outlet port 19. This conduit is adapted to transmit fluid supplied by conduit 21, as allowed by the valve, to a selected location (not shown).

It will be appreciated that the path of fluid flow through the valve may be reversed. In other words, the fluid may be admitted into the compartment by way of conduit 22 and then withdrawn by way of passage 18 and conduit 21.

Bushing 13 is externally threaded for engagement with the internal threads in base wall 15 and bears at its lower end against a'sealing gasket 23. The bushing includes an annular flange 24 which is positioned between the upper end of base wall 15 and the lower end of cover 12.

Cover 12 is generally cylindrical and is provided with a tubular lateral extension 25. An electromagnet coil 26 is positioned within the cover and has a pair of electric leads 27 which extend through extension 25 and are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electric energy supply (not shown). The cover carries a threaded magnetic plug 28 which is maintained in position by a nut 29. V p

A valve member or plunger 30 is reciprocable in coil 26 and is coaxial with valve seat 16 and its passage 18. The plunger has an annular flange 31. A helical compression spring 32 bears at its ends against bushing 13 and flange 31 and normally urges the plunger toward the valve seat. The lower end of the plunger is recessed to receive a valve plug or insert 33 which is made of a suitable, flexible, resilient material, such as rubber or the like, for engagement with the valve seat.

For the purpose of briefly describing the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that electric leads 27 are connected to a suitable source of electric energy (not shown) and that conduit 21 is connected to a source of fluid supply (not shown). With coil 26 deenergized, plunger 30 is maintained in its lowermost position by spring 32 so that valve plug 33 bears against valve seat 16 and closes the upper end of passage 18. When the parts are in this relative position, there is no fluid flow from conduit 21 to conduit 22.

Upon energization of coil 26, plunger 30 and plug 33 are moved upwardly against the action of spring 32. This releases the valve plug from the valve seat and permits fluid, supplied by conduit 21, to flow through port 17, passage 18, compartment 14, passage 19 and thence into conduit 22. When the coil is again deenergized, spring 32 moves the plunger and valve plug downwardly to the illustrated position, thereby pressing the valve plug against the valve seat and terminating fluid flow through the valve.

For further details of construction and operation, reference may be had to my pending application Serial No. 724,690.

Referring back to the general discussion of the invention appearing earlier herein, when the transverse area of valve seat passage 18 is equal to the peripheral area of a right circular cylinder extending from the upper end of the valve seat to the lower end of the valve member, theoretical proper fluid flow is attained without abnormal pressure drop. Also, by employing an included valve seat base angle of a certain size, namely 26 34, the equal area relationship holds true regardless of the selected size of the passage.

The value of the valve seat base angle is ascertained in a manner that will now be explained, having reference to Fig. 2, wherein:

c represents a right circular cone which is defined in part denotes the transverse area of passage 18.

Formula 1rdh denotes the peripheral surface area of cylinder C.

The earlier referred-to equal area relationship is set forth in the following equation: 4

By reducing this equation, it is noted that:

Referring next to angle a of the cone and valve seat tangent a:

tan ent ag 2D-2d Substituting d -4- for h tangent a m Tangent a may also be expressed as follows, having reference to Fig. 2:

tangent a= em lelm Therefore,

2 g 4H-d D=4H Substituting 4H for D in the equation:

tangent a 2H tangent a 1?!- From this it is noted that angle a equals 26 34'.

For best results, it is recommended that the valve seat have an included base angle of 28 in order to compensate for fluid eddy currents in use. The valve will, however, operate satisfactorily if the valve seat included base angle is within the range of 24 to 32.

This invention contemplates forming the valve seat 5 and various fluid passages in a base member which is 7 adapted to be removably connected to the other parts of the valve housing. This constitutes one of the fea tures of the invention. It will be appreciated that stock bases may be used with other parts to provide valves having diflerent flow capacities. It is merely necessary -to drill the proper size passage 18 in the valve seat to meet particular requirements. This eliminates the need for large inventories of valves having different diameter passages.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction,

operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a valve, a housing defining a fluid compartment, a frusto-conical valve seat carried by the housing and projecting into the compartment, said valve seat being provided with a coaxial passage which is circular in transverse configuration and which communicates with the compartment, the surface of the valve seat defining the passage intersecting the frusto-conical surface of the valve seat; said valve seat having an included base angle Within the range of about 24 to 32, a valve member at least partly within the compartment and having a seating surface which is substantially parallel to the base of the valve seat in the fully opened position of the valve, said valve member being movable into and out of engagement with the end of the valve seat of smallest diameter, means within the housing limiting movement of the valve member to a fully opened position away from the valve seat, the distance from the base of the valve seat to the valve member when the valve member is at its fully opened position away from the valve seat being approximately one fourth the base diameter of the valve seat, said housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, one of the ports establishing communication between the compartment and the exterior of the housing, the other port establishing communication between the passage and the exterior of the housing.

2. In a valve, a housing defining a fluid compartment, a frusto-conical valve seat carried by the housing and projecting into the compartment, said valve seat being provided with a coaxial passage which is circular in transverse configuration and which communicates with the compartment, the surface of the valve seat defining the passage intersecting the frusto-conical surface of the valve seat, said valve seat having an included base angle of approximately 28, a valve member at least partly within the compartment and having a seating surface which is substantially parallel to the base of the valve seat in the fully opened position of the valve, said valve member being movable into and out of engagement with the end of the valve seat of smallest diameter, means within the housing limiting movement of the valve member to a fully opened position away from the valve seat, the distance from the base of the valve seat to the valve member when the valve member is at its fully opened position away from the valve seat being approximately one fourth the base diameter of the valve seat, said housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, one of the ports establishing communication between the compartment and the exterior of the housing, the other port es! tablishing communication between the passage and the exterior of the housing.

3. In a valve, a housing comprising a base and a cover removably connected to the base, said housing defining a fluid compartment, a frusto-conical valve seat carried by the base and projecting into the compartment, said valve seat being provided with a coaxial passage which is circular in transverse configuration and which communicates with the compartment, the surface of the valve seat defining the passage intersecting the frusto-conical surface of the valve seat said valve seat having an in cluded base angle Within the range of about 24 to 32", a reciprocable valve member within the housing, said valve member being coaxial with the valve seat and having a seating surface which is substantially parallel to the base of the valve seat in the fully opened position of the valve, said valve member being movable into and out of engagement with the end of the valve seat of smallest diameter, means within the housing limiting movement of the valve member to a fully opened position away from the valve seat, the distance from the base of the valve seat to the valve member when the valve is at its fully opened position away from the valve seat being approximately one fourth the base diameter of the valve seat, said base having an inlet port and an outlet port formed therein, one of the ports establishing communication between the compartment and the exterior of the housing, the other port establishing communication between the passage and the exterior of the housing.

4. In a valve, a housing comprising a base and a cover removably connected to the base, said housing defining a fluid compartment, a frusto-conical valve seat carried by the base and projecting into the compartment, said valve seat being provided with a coaxial passage which is circular in transverse configuration and which communicates with the compartment, the surface of the valve seat defining the passage intersecting the frusto-conical surface of the valve seat said valve seat having an included base angle of approximately 28, a reciprocable valve member within the housing, said valve member being coaxial with the valve seat and having a seating surface which is substantially parallel to the base of the valve seat in the fully opened position of the valve, said valve member being movable into and out of engagement with the end of the valve seat of smallest diameter, means within the housing limiting movement of the valve member to a fully opened position away from the valve sea-t, the distance from the base of the valve seat to the valve member when the valve is at its fully opened position away from the valve seat being approximately one fourth the base diameter of the valve seat, said base having an inlet port and an outlet port formed therein, one of the ports establishing communication between the compartment and the exterior of the housing, the other port establishing communication between the passage and the exterior of the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,585 Churchill Ian. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 45,749 Holland of 1939 

